Thursday’s briefing: Liverpool storm through but Newcastle collapse in Barcelona

Liverpool roared into the Champions League quarter-finals but Newcastle fell apart in Barcelona and Tottenham also bowed out despite a first home win in two months.

Meanwhile, the Africa Cup of Nations saga rumbles on with the Senegalese government accusing African football’s governing body of “corruption”.

Gala parade for Liverpool

Liverpool booked a place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a thumping 4-0 victory at home to Galatasaray.

Arne Slot’s side overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit and provided a stirring response to their growing number of critics.

Dominik Szoboszlai started the rout with a training-ground corner routine but they should have led by more at half-time after Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved.

But three goals inside 11 minutes from Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and, eventually, Salah – becoming the first African player to score 50 Champions League goals – set up a meeting with holders Paris St Germain.

“From start to finish I think we played the game I was hoping for, the players were hoping for and the fans were hoping for,” said Slot.

“Not only we played the perfect game from start to finish but the fans did as well.

“They tried to create a situation where the energy would go out of the stadium by making sure there was not much playing time but our fans reacted great to that and our players kept on going.”

Toon collapse in Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha killed off Newcastle’s Champions League dream as Barcelona survived a first-half fright to book a quarter-final place in style.

The 37-year-old Poland international hit the Magpies with a quickfire double before the Brazilian struck his second to seal a 7-2 win on the night and an 8-3 aggregate victory as Eddie Howe’s side imploded.

Anthony Elanga’s first-half brace had cancelled out Raphinha’s early opener and Marc Bernal’s free-header, but Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty opened the floodgates with Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Raphinha again doing the damage.

Howe said: “As much as it is a harsh scoreline on us and a painful experience, to see the players play as well as they did in the first half and execute 90 per cent of what we wanted was a great feeling, a great sight.

“I don’t think that all should be forgotten with the scoreline, as difficult as that is for everyone to see.”

Spurs finally get some home comforts

Tottenham bowed out but only after a rip-roaring second leg with Atletico Madrid where Xavi Simons’ double helped them to a first home victory in two months.

Spurs had lurched from one crisis to another in 2026 and a shambolic 5-2 loss in Madrid last week left manager Igor Tudor on the brink.

But a spirited 1-1 draw at Liverpool restored belief and the north London club clawed back more pride on Wednesday despite a 7-5 aggregate defeat.

Randal Kolo Muani’s 30th-minute opener gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope before Julian Alvarez levelled early in the second half for Atletico.

Simons replied immediately to increase optimism, but David Hancko’s 75th-minute equaliser virtually put the tie to bed before a late Simons penalty.

“The feelings are mixed of course, we are out,” said Tudor. “But the sensation is of one a very good team on the pitch and one good performance.”

Senegal government cries ‘foul’ over AFCON ruling

The Senegalese government has accused African football’s governing body of “corruption” after the country was stripped of the continental title they won in January.

An appeal board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken the Africa Cup of Nations crown from Senegal and awarded it to Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 win and imposing a 3-0 defeat instead.

The appeal board determined Senegal had forfeited the match when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco deep in stoppage time.

The walk-off led to a lengthy delay, and, when the game was belatedly restarted, Brahim Diaz saw his spot-kick saved by Edouard Mendy. Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal for Senegal in extra time.

Senegal’s football federation has already indicated it intends to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the country’s government has now waded in.

It said in a post on X: “(Senegal) requests the opening of an independent international investigation into suspicions of corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies.”

What’s on today?

Attention turns to the Europa League, where Nottingham Forest travel to FC Midtjylland a goal down from the first leg, while Aston Villa host Lille holding a 1-0 lead.

In the Conference League, Crystal Palace are in Cyprus to face AEK Lanarca, with the tie goalless after the first leg.